Sunday, March 03, 2013

Psyops 101: An introduction to psychological operations

24 OCT 2012



Posted by Corbett



Podcast: Play in new window | Download

[CLICK HERE to continue watching the report on BoilingFrogsPost.com]

by James Corbett
BoilingFrogsPost.com
October 23, 2012

Psyops, or psychological operations, is a term used to describe the techniques of psychological manipulation used in warfare. These operations are used to deceive, confuse, disrupt and demoralize the enemy, with an aim toward weakening enemy resistance or even causing enemy forces to surrender and enemy populations to capitulate.

As the flip-side to the ancient wisdom that knowledge is key to all successful warfare strategies, the art of deliberately sewing deception has been understood and practiced for thousands of years.

Over 2000 years ago, the use of deception and psychological manipulation as a tool of combat was detailed in Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu’s The Art of War:

“All warfare is based on deception. Therefore, when capable of attacking, feign incapacity; when active in moving troops, feign inactivity.”

More than a mere theory, though, psychological warfare has been used since the dawn of recorded history.

One of the earliest and simplest examples of psyops trickery occurred over 3000 years ago in the Trojan War. In a bid to end the war, the Greeks pretended to sail away, leaving a giant wooden horse as an offering to the goddess Athena. The Trojans, believing themselves to have finally won the battle, took the horse into Troy as a victory trophy. As the legend goes, the horse in fact contained a team of Greek soldiers, who slipped out of the horse in the night, opening the city gates for their compatriots who had sailed back under cover of night. The Greeks took the city that night and ended a 10-year siege with one simple act of psyops trickery.

Another oft-recounted tale of psychological warfare from the ancient world revolved around Alexander the Great. Contemplating a retreat during one of his Asian campaigns, he was worried that the enemy forces would pursue his army. He is said to have had an oversized suit of armor casted and left behind when his forces withdrew, so that when the enemy found it they would believe him and his men to be giants, dissuading them from pursuit.

Genghis Khan’s marauding Mongolian hordes were likewise helped by coordinated psyops campaigns. In advance of those campaigns, he would send emissaries to targeted settlements to spread word of the fearsome Mongolian army and to demand surrender. When facing an enemy, Genghis Khan would order his troops to light three torches at night to give the impression of greater numbers, and attach instruments to horse’s tails so the dust clouds in their wake would make a small force appear much larger.

But in the modern age, just as the 20th century gave rise to new techniques of warfare, so too did it see the birth of new methods of psyops, deception and propaganda. The dawn of the age of air travel began the age of the aerial bombardment. So, too, did it give rise to the idea of dropping leaflets on enemy installations urging enemy forces to surrender. Nationalists in the Spanish civil war used loudspeakers to broadcast messages into Republican areas urging them to give up the fight. In the Pacific theater in World War II, Tokyo Rose broadcast Japanese propaganda messages meant to demoralize American GIs. Many of these simple techniques of propaganda dissemination are still used today, like this NATO propaganda broadcast from Italy via shortwave dissuading Libyans from resisting the NATO invasion last year.

In modern times, the violent, destructive and immoral nature of psyops have been sanitized for mass consumption by domestic populations and conquering armies alike. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the modern American army, which has been producing propaganda on the benevolent, helpful nature of psychological warfare for decades now.

Although the method of presentation may have changed, the core methods and practices at the heart of US psyops have remained essentially unchanged for much of the last century. Modern psyops techniques include many of the same ideas that have been used since the formation of the modern psychological warfare program. With the advent of cyberspace, however, militaries around the world are preparing themselves to fight a new form of information warfare in the newest battlefront: the internet.

Just as the airplane and the radio opened up new channels for disseminating propaganda and false information, so too has the advent of the internet allowed militaries around the globe to bring psyops tactics into the cyber arena. In the American context, this cyberwarfare concept is coordinated under CYBERCOM, a sub-unit of STRATCOM, one of the nine unified commands under the Department of Defense. Although little is directly known about the current operational tactics and methods that are being deployed to bring psyops campaigns to the digital domain, numerous treatises, papers, articles andopen discussions are taking place in military journals, strategy documents, and congressional subcommittees over the vital role that the internet is set to play in 21st century psychological warfare campaigns.

There are many aspects of the psychological warfare program that we will examine in coming weeks: the controversy over its use domestically; the manipulation and creation of fake news; the use of psychological warfare in modern conflicts. But one of the most striking elements of modern psyops is how much of it is aimed at the troops themselves.

For decades now, troops have been trained to believe that psyops are little more than an adjunct to the PR campaigns that are used to sell military campaigns abroad. Inherently neutral, or even positive, in nature, they help in the creation of good relations between the marauding imperial forces and what is euphemistically referred to as the “host” nation. In reality, modern psyops tactics are the same as they have always been: the use of deception and persuasion to gain advantage over enemy forces. Just because we live in a unipolar world with just one military force capable of projecting its power and deploying its troops anywhere in the globe does not mean that that military is not constantly engaging in deception and psywar tactics to gain strategic advantage over its erstwhile “allies” and “partners” across the globe.

In an ironic twist, perhaps it is the soldiers themselves who are the first victims of the psywar propaganda.


Source
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John Brownlee - Tactics of New World Order Agents







Uploaded on Jan 7, 2011


Facts of the Future? http://www.mefag.com/engl.htm

More literature in english and german you can find at:
http://www.scribd.com/users/TheMedien...

Bible Study? http://www.biblestudytools.com/interl...
Spirit of Prophecy? http://egwwritings.org/

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Saturday, March 02, 2013

Adventists caution about threat to T&T’s religious liberty



Published:
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Yvonne Baboolal




Attorney Randolph Hector talks on religious liberty at the Tacarigua SDA church last Saturday.


As the Government sets the stage for constitutional reform, the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) church is urging its membership to be mindful of any possible changes that may be made in the area of religious liberty. The reminder is coming from the church’s Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Association (PARL). The association sent out a media release earlier this week on the celebration of PARL Day last Saturday by SDA churches across T&T.

Oswald J Pierre, PARL leader of the Tacarigua church and Assistant Secretary General of the Caribbean Religious Liberty Association (CARLA) told the T&T Guardian religious liberty and the freedom to worship according to one’s faith is enshrined in T&T’s Constitution. Based on global trends, however, he is warning local members to be watchful of any coming changes.

Pierre recalled that in the 1800s there was an attempt in the US to establish a national Sunday law but it was defeated. He warned there is another attempt to institute the law which will affect SDA members whose Sabbath day is Saturday. “While there is no threat to religious liberty in T&T, in the US there is a push to change the constitution to allow churches and religious organisations more control,” he observed.

Pierre said there was a religious liberty threat in Barbados recently but it was resolved with the Shop Steward Act. He said even in T&T, SDA members have reported of instances where their constitutionally enshrined freedom to worship on Saturdays was under threat. Arouca/Maloney MP Alicia Charles, who attended the Tacarigua SDA church’s celebration of PARL Day last Saturday reminded the congregation of the tremendous blessings of religious liberty and the provisions in T&T’s Constitution that allow freedom of worship for all.


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Military Takeover of America, Part 1

Military Takeover of America, Part 1 - TV Berlin Video

John Osborne and Bob Trefz

Video von ftsnadmin

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The Military Takeover of America, Part 2
???

The Military Takeover of America, Part 3

The Military Takeover of America, Part 4

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The Vatican's Fiscal Cliff Solution: Socialism

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ChristianVoice08


Published on Jan 15, 2013


A Financial Crisis is rocking the world's economies. Many are searching for a solution to the crisis here and abroad. Biblical principles regarding how we live and provide for our families and ourselves that bring stability and well-being into societies are ignored. Moreover, while socialism is on the rise, the Catholic Church is helping in advancing it with its socialistic agenda. The anomaly is the fact that while there is abject poverty in numerous nations overtaken by socialism, many world leaders are already prepared to accept it. The Vatican officially states, "With her social doctrine, the Church aims 'at helping man on the path of salvation.' This is her primary and sole purpose." However, mankind's purpose by nature is to be free to determine his own well-being. When mankind's purpose is opposed to the objective of the Vatican, it is time to be alert and sound the alarm. In this DVD, Pastor W. J. Mencarow, along with Richard Bennett, document the Vatican's surprising position and what are real biblical solutions to the contested crisis. Kindly make this crucial DVD known to others by forwarding its URL. To see in print the Roman Catholic Socialist Agenda please download our article on the topic at:

http://www.bereanbeacon.org/articles/...

Source Links:
SOLLICITUDO REI SOCIALIS
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/joh...

COMPENDIUM OF THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pon...

Starting point for IMF Quote
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/sec...

..
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WANTED! More Female Pastors — Essential for the Harvest


By G. Alexander Bryant



The North American Division (NAD) has voted to focus on six areas of emphasis over the next quinquinnium, which we refer to as “Building Blocks.” These building blocks are foundational for the continual growth of the North American Division. The six focus areas are designed to connect many areas of ministry, which exists as a part of the NAD mission. These six areas are: (1) Adventist Learning Community, (2) Transformational Evangelism, (3) Media, (4) Emerging Immigrant Population, (5) Retention of Young Adults, and (6) Women in Ministry.

The focus of this article is on the “Women in Ministry” Building Block. This Building Block is not designed to deal with the ordination of women, which is being addressed in another venue through a study group/committee. The “Women in Ministry” building block is a human resource emphasis, which focuses on the recruitment of more women in pastoral leadership, and it will move forward independent of the findings and conclusion of the ordination issue. Presently, there is a lack of women in pastoral work within the North American Division, and we need them to help finish the work of God in this territory.

Joel 2:28, states that in the last days “God’s Spirit will be poured out on ALL flesh—your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” My prayer and hope is that this article raises the significance of “women in ministry” and awakens a sense of urgency that propels our leaders to partner together in the advancement and inclusion of more women, to help gather the harvest and finish the Lord’s work.

Why is there a need to increase the female pastoral work force?

Of the approximately 4000 pastors employed in our division, only 107 are women. In order
to finish God’s work we need the women who are called of God to work alongside the men who are also equally called by God. As we face the possibility of losing approximately half of our workforce to retirement in the next ten years, here lies a great reservoir of laborers for God’s vineyard. Let there be no mistaking of our resolve to make the accomplishment of God’s mission within our Division territory our number one priority. Therefore, we will exercise a stubborn determination and commitment to find solutions to the many issues, which could negatively impact our ability to mobilize this mostly unused pool of resources for God to effectively carry His mission forward throughout the North American territory.

The North American Division, its Unions, and Conferences must become more intentional (as local circumstances permit) in the development of pathways to ministry for female pastors. Thus, it is also imperative to develop intentional methods of mentoring women who can become conference Executive Secretaries and Treasurers.

What is the strategy? What kind of collaborative “Human Resources” approach is needed to initiate, develop, and implement this new “Women in Ministry” Building Block?

The strategy is to design, build, and implement a process mechanism, which identifies, targets, and provides a partnership to support females, who feel called by the Lord, from college level through the seminary, leading to full-employment into the local conferences. The goal and result of this strategy is to increase the number of employed female pastors by 100% over the next five years or by 2016. The strategy will also include a comprehensive approach to education and communication of the NAD membership.

Concrete activities and events that make up the strategy include such activities as the following:

• Programs for the orientation and education of church members
• Incentivizing the hiring of greater numbers of women clergy and administrators
• Development of church administrator support structures for women clergy

In 2013, the North American Division will begin to aggressively implement an emphasis on “Women in Ministry” within its territory, which will start with a communication strategy while simultaneously building partnerships with employing entities to place and identify women God has called to assist in ushering in His Second Coming. There will also be a significant financial commitment from the North American Division to support this endeavor. We cannot fail in this Building Block, and we will not fail because God’s work needs and calls for these additional laborers in His field. Jesus said, “The harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few.” Yet, there are women lined-up and standing at the gate waiting to come in to help with the Harvest. It is time to let them in!


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Avalanche of Spiritual Formation in the SDA Church


Watch Avalanche of Spiritual Formation in the SDA Church in Faith & Lifestyle  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

by: thewatchmendailynews

Also known as "The Jesuit Infiltration of the SDA Church", Elder Bob Trefz (a Historical SDA) exposes how the Jesuit Order through the years have infiltrated the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

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Whirlwind Battle - Bob Trefz







Published on May 6, 2011


No description available.


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UPDATED - Tom Horn & Cris Putnam – Satan’s Vatican Heralds

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2013


Mission: Make the Bible 'cool' for TV



SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2013

1:00 AM



'Survivor' producer Mark Burnett teams up with his wife, Roma Downey, to take on 'biblical illiteracy'.

By DAVID BAUDER The Associated Press



Mark Burnett was taken aback by the scale of what his wife, actress Roma Downey, had in mind when she suggested over tea one morning four years ago that they make a television miniseries based on the Bible.




Jesus, portrayed by Diogo Morgado, is baptized by John, played by Daniel Percival, in “The Bible,” a miniseries that debuts Sunday evening on History. The cable production “is an epic tale of adventure,” said Nancy Dubuc, president of the channel.
The Associated Press



Roma Downey portrays Mary, mother of Jesus, in the miniseries. Downey is best known for her role in the popular television series “Touched By an Angel.”
The Associated Press

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS BELOW

"Momentarily, I think he thought I'd lost my mind," Downey recalled. "He went out on his bicycle and he prayed on it and he came back and said, 'You know what, I think it's a good idea. I think we should do it together.' We shook hands and haven't looked back."

The series debuts on History Sunday at 8 p.m. EST, the first of five two-hour chunks that will air each weekend. The finale airs on Easter Sunday.

Different stories in the Bible have been Hollywood fodder for years. Burnett, the prolific producer behind "Survivor" and "The Voice," said no one had tried to tie it all together and use modern computer graphics to bring images like Moses parting the Red Sea to life on screen.

Instead of being all-encompassing, they tried to concentrate on stories in depth and on characters who would emotionally engage the audience. The first episode illustrates the wisdom of that approach: It flounders at the start with a discussion about the world's creation but becomes more gripping when the emphasis turns to the lives of Abraham and Moses.

Burnett said he believes there's a growing "biblical illiteracy" among young people.

"It's like saying you never heard of Macbeth or King Lear," he said. "In school, you have to know a certain amount of Shakespeare, but no Bible. So there's got to be a way to look at it from a pure literature point of view. If it wasn't for the Bible, arguably Shakespeare wouldn't have written those stories."

Downey, the former star of "Touched By an Angel," said she wanted to be part of something that would glorify God.

After pitching their idea to several networks, Burnett and Downey found a fit with Nancy Dubuc, History's president and general manager. She likes the challenge of ideas that seem unwieldy. History made the 2010 miniseries "America the Story of Us," which was a big hit, and 2012's "Mankind the Story of All of Us," which wasn't. Last spring's miniseries on the Hatfields and McCoys was an eye-opening success.

Burnett and Downey have been building anticipation for "The Bible" by previewing it at churches and for religious leaders. Rick Warren, Joel Osteen and Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, have all endorsed the work.

"The faith community is going to sample it, unquestionably," Dubuc said. "Whether they stay or go remains with the TV gods. Our job has been to present this as an epic tale of adventure."

History's own campaign is not targeting a religious audience, emphasizing some of the dramatic scenes to suggest that audiences won't be preached to. The screening that Downey and Burnett have sweated the most was when their teenage children showed it to some friends.

"We knew that we could make it heartfelt," Downey said. "We knew we could make it faithful. But we wanted to be sure that we could make it cool."

Downey spent nearly half of 2012 in Morocco supervising filming, beginning in the cold of February and ending in the blistering heat of July. "We wanted it to be gritty and authentic," she said. "We didn't want it to look like somebody had just stepped out of the dry cleaners."

Her husband flew back and forth to the United States, where he would work on his other programs. Downey said she initially had no intention of appearing onscreen, but stepped in when they had trouble casting an actress for an older Mary, mother of Jesus.

Except for Downey, few of the actors involved are well known in the United States. Portuguese TV star Diogo Morgado portrays Jesus Christ, and many of the other lead actors are based in Britain.

The television airing of "The Bible" on History is only the beginning for this project. Lifetime will air a repeat each week after a new episode appears on History. It will air internationally, and a DVD package will go on sale this spring. The series' scripts are bound together into a book. Producers will make a theatrical release movie of a portion of the story, and are looking at showing it in stadiums this fall. Burnett and Downey have also reached a deal to make parts of the film available as part of a religious education curriculum for churches.

"More people will watch this than any of our other series combined over the next three decades," Burnett said.

Even better, their marriage survived the grueling process intact -- even stronger, Downey said.

"Nobody has taken on the broad vision from Genesis to Revelation, and I think we probably realized at midpoint why no one had done it before," she said. "It was maddeningly complicated and extraordinarily hard work. We approached it humbly, but we were exhilarated by it."


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Friday, March 01, 2013

Blessed Sabbath



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EUROPEAN DAY FOR A WORK-FREE SUNDAY ON 3 MARCH 2013

Sunday 3 March 2013


The European Sunday Alliance reminds all members and supporters to also take action this year on Sunday, 3 March 2013, as the EUROPEAN DAY FOR A WORK-FREE SUNDAY!




In these difficult times of economic insecurity too many workers and employers are coming under pressure and our society overlooks the importance of free time and the participation of citizens in society. With regard to the current retrenchment of social policies, it is important to make our voice for decent work rhythms heard!

Synchronization of working time: The current practises and legislation in EU- and Member States need to be improved. Synchronization of working time which includes the work-free Sunday is crucial. Only if this happens can health, safety and dignity of all citizens can be promoted. Only in this way will all citizens be able to reconcile their personal, family and professional life. Only by this is social cohesion guaranteed as it enables people to gather, employers and employees alike.

European Year of Citizens 2013: Whether it is for cultural enrichment or spiritual wellbeing or whether people attend church services, sports clubs, family events or civil society organizations: Citizenship deserves time! The work-free Sunday as well as synchronised working time are a clear and visible demonstration that people and our societies are not dependent solely on work and economy.

More than ever, in 2013, our Alliance calls on members, supporters and all citizens to make our common demand visible on Sunday on 3rd of March 2013!



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March came in like a lion



March came in like a lying.


The Sequester (or Automatic Budget Cuts) is finally here and I am so scared.

With all the fear mongering begun in the Fall of 2008, then the Jobless Recovery that followed soon afterwards; I am so tired of the gimmicks used by the Poli-tricksians in Washington.
RECENTLY, it was the the Debt Ceiling, before (or was it after?) that it was the Fiscal Cliff;  It's all so exhausting.  Now, we have the dreaded Sequester and the pundits will beat this dead horse until it gets up and drinks the water.  Frankly, I am weary of the Hegelian Dialectics.  Meanwhile, March came in as a lion and the NCAA boys will soon be playing 24 o 7 around the clock until they reach the finals;  This year the Washington Congressmen and  the Washington General will play act a la Harlem Globetrotters.
BTW: "I knew Meadowlark Lemon, and Mr. President you are no Meadowlark Lemon".  


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Kick Pasteurized Milk To The Curb And Make Your Own Healthy Nut Milk


February 28, 2013 | By admin





Karen Foster, Prevent Disease

Waking Times

Sure, we can all buy our favorite store brands, but how many of us dread those nasty complement ingredients such as emulsifiers, oils, starches, artificial or even natural flavors we know have no place in a healthy beverage? If you make your own nut milk, you’ll also save yourself from the toxic chemicals which line the cartons of more than 80 percent of brands. Instead of feeling limited to what’s available at the market, making your own nut milk is easy and you’ll get to decide exactly what goes in it.

Today’s processed milk is far from healthy and is essentially a dead liquid, devoid of any real nutritional value. What’s a better alternative? Nuts!

Brazil nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, and hemp seeds all make nutrient dense, great tasting milks and they’re all essentially made the same way.

WHAT YOU NEED
Organic nuts or seeds. A general rule is a ratio of at least 2:1. Two parts water to 1 part nuts or seeds.
Half-gallon mason jar or glass pitcher. Use this for soaking the nuts and storing your final product.
Blender of food processor. You don’t need a high-speed blender or anything fancy to make nut milk.
Nut milk bag, cheesecloth or fine-meshed sieve (optional). Use if you like your milk smooth instead of pulpy.

SOAK nuts, seeds, or grains by placing in a bowl with filtered water and a pinch of sea salt. Different foods require different soak times.


- Place the desired nuts or seeds in a glass bowl and cover them with warm distilled, purified or filtered water with a teaspoon of Celtic Sea Salt dissolved in it.

- You will want to use a ratio of at least 2:1. Two parts water to 1 part nuts or seeds.

- Keep the bowl at room temperature and cover with a flour sac cloth or thin tea towel that breathes, and then drain and rinse every few hours to remove the nasties.

- The soaking water will contain all of the toxic enzyme inhibitors which we are trying to remove to improve digestibility and nutrient bioavailability, and helps everything blend more easily. So proper rinsing is really important. Make sure you do a final rinse until the water comes out clear. Some people recommend doing a final rinse with a diluted solution of apple cider vinegar in order to remove any remaining bacteria.

- You want to try and soak the nuts for the recommended amount of time to make them as digestible as possible.

- As a general rule with nuts: the harder the nut, the longer you need to soak. Long soak nuts such as almonds, pistachios and hazelnuts are best soaked for about 12 hours. Common medium soak nuts are walnuts, brazil nuts and pecans. They require less soaking time as they swell more quickly as they are oilier. Short soak nuts are cashews, macadamias and pine nuts. They require the least amount of soaking as they do not contain inner skins, and therefore not as many enzyme inhibitors.

Nut Soaking Time (Hrs)

Almonds 8-12
Brazil Nuts 3
Cashews 2-4
Flaxseeds 1/2
Hazelnuts 8-12
Macadamias 2
Pecans 6
Pistachios 8
Walnuts 4


BLEND with filtered water. A high-speed machine like a Vitamix is preferable to really pulverize the mixture. A 1:3 ration of nuts/seeds/grains to water generally yields good results. I start with 2 cups of water and gradually add more water until I get the taste and consistency I like. Blend for about 1 minute. This can warm the mixture. Chill in the fridge, or blend with ice to consume immediately.

SWEETEN the milk to taste with pitted dates, stevia, maple syrup, honey, coconut sugar, etc. You can also add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to boost flavors, and 1 tablespoon of coconut butter to emulsify ingredients. You can also jazz up your milks with raw cacao, fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, or anything else that tickles your fancy.

STRAIN Some foods like cashews, macadamias, and pecans yield smooth milks. However, with most other foods, like almonds, you will get some texture. You can enjoy this fibrous milk, or strain it for a smoother, more commercial-style blend. Place a nut milk bag over a large container, pour the milk in, and gently squeeze the bag until all liquid has passed through. You can repurpose the pulp as a body scrub by mixing with some coconut oil, or dehydrate it for use in cookies, crusts, and crackers.

Here are five ideas for your pulp (if you don’t want it in your milk):
1. Nut Flour. The pulp can be dehydrated or placed in a 200 degree oven until dried. Grind the dried pulp in a spice grinder or high-speed blender until fine.2. Raw cookies. Blend the pulp with some dates, nut butter, shredded coconut and sweet spices. Roll into balls and roll in shredded coconut or raw cocoa powder.

3. Soft, raw cheese. Blend the pulp in a food processor with a little nutritional yeast, garlic, lemon juice, fresh herbs, and salt. Serve with crackers.

4. Cereal. Combine the pulp with your fresh nut milk, dried fruits, nuts and sweet spices for a porridge-like cereal.

ENJOY Most milks will keep in the fridge in a sealed container for two or three days. Freeze any leftovers in ice cube trays for use later. Homemade milks can separate when stored. Just shake or blend again before drinking.

Sources:
antonhealth.com
vegetariantimes.com 


About the Author

Karen Foster is a holistic nutritionist, avid blogger, with five kids and an active lifestyle that keeps her in pursuit of the healthiest path towards a life of balance.


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Of Kings, Popes, Ecclesia and Mundus



The Love/Hate Relationship
Between Church and State




210 years ago today, on New Year's Day, 1802, President Thomas Jefferson penned a letter to a group of Connecticut Baptists who had been the unfortunate victims of religious persecution. At the time, Connecticut had established Congregationalism as the official religion of the state, and these Danbury Baptists had asked President Jefferson for aid. In what has become known as the Danbury Letter, President Jefferson responded to the Danbury Baptists by repeating the words of the First Amendment, which state that Congress shall "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." President Jefferson then added the words, "thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."



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No King But Jesus




The crisis of the ages demands that we renew the historic battle-cry of our Christian Forefathers: "We Have No King But King Jesus!"

"Remove not the ancient landmarks which thy fathers have set."

-- Proverbs 22:28

The Historic Battle-Cry of the Christian Church is:

"AND HE HATH ON HIS VESTURE AND ON HIS THIGH, A NAME WRITTEN, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

-- Revelation 19:16

by Charles A. Jennings

The glorious annals of sacred history of the Christian Church record the heroic deeds of many of our forefathers in their struggle against the ungodly dictates of religious and political tyrants. Their unrelenting devotion and allegiance to Jesus Christ as not only prophet and priest, but as the only rightful king resulted in their confrontation with the ungodly political, social and religious authorities. There are numerous historical accounts which offer irrefutable proof that human governments have demanded the total allegiance of their 'subjects,' at the expense of individual God-given rights of personal liberties, political philosophy and religious beliefs.

Early in the life of the first century Church, both the Jewish religious and Roman political authorities attempted to stop the Apostles in their proclamation that Jesus Christ and He alone was and is the only Lord and Savior (Acts 2:36). The Apostle Peter declared; "neither is there salvation in any other: For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). One of the official accusations brought by the Roman government against many members of the Apostolic Church was the charge of ‘atheism,’ because they refused to recognize and worship Caesar as God.

THE APOSTOLIC DECLARATION

"We ought to obey God rather than men"

Peter and the other Apostles

-- Acts 5:29


In the 17th century there was another clear example of staunch Christian believers defending the "Crown Rights" of Jesus Christ. They willingly resolved to give total allegiance to their Savior in spite of the disfavor of the English Crown which resulted in the bloody martyrdom of thousands of Scottish saints. In 1560 the Reform Faith was established as the national religion of Scotland. Forty-three years later in 1603 James VI of Scotland became James I of England. In 1618 the king tried to conform the worship of the Scottish churches to the pattern of the Anglican Church, which policy was pursued by his son Charles I in 1625. The Scottish Presbyterians rejected this royal usurpation by signing the National Covenant in 1638 which declared religious independence from the state church. Again they signed the Solemn League and Covenant in 1643 which pledged themselves in their worship and allegiance only to the Crown Rights of Jesus Christ. Thus they became known as the Scottish Covenanters. They opposed the theory of the Divine Right of Kings and taught that limitless sovereignty pertains to God alone.



In Paul Revere's midnight ride to Lexington to announce the coming of British Regulars, he warned two patriot leaders, the gray-haired Sam Adams and John Hancock who were staying at the home of Parson Jonas Clarke.


Such dissenting views brought strong opposition from King Charles II in 1662 and Presbyterianism was outlawed and the Covenants were denounced as illegal. Following the Biblical admonition of obedience to the Sovereign God instead of an earthly king made the Covenanters ‘rebels’ to the state. Many Scottish preachers, driven from their pulpits, resorted to field preaching. Thousands of Covenanters were hunted down, jailed (sometimes without trial), brutally tortured and killed. In spite of severe persecution and deprivations, many of these despised religious ‘rebels’ met their vicious attackers proudly waving their banners which read:

‘FOR THE WORD OF GOD AND THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS’ and "FOR CHRIST’S CROWN AND COVENANT."

In spite of certain death, a bleeding remnant of 200 Scottish Covenanters at Blackgannoch Moss in May 1685, loudly proclaimed their fervent declaration of faith:

"LET KING JESUS REIGN, AND ALL HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED!"

Another historical example of the Church’s declaration of the Crown Rights of Jesus Christ is clearly seen in the theology of the Puritan Fathers as follows. "Basic in Puritan political thought is the doctrine of divine sovereignty. It was the sovereign God who created the state and gave to it its powers and functions. The earthly magistrate held his position and exercised his power by a divine decree. He was a minister of God under common grace for the execution of the laws of God among the people at large, for the main tenancy of law and order, and for so ruling the state that it would provide an atmosphere favorable for the preaching of the Gospel. He was to so rule that the people of God, the elect, could live individually and collectively a life that was truly Christian."

(From: A Theological Interpretation of American History" by C. Gregg Singer)

The Christian doctrine of the sovereignty of God and the Crown Rights of Jesus Christ was prevalent in the minds of many patriots preceding and during the American Revolution in their struggle against King George III.

The men of Marlborough, MA unanimously proclaimed in January 1773 that "Death is more eligible than slavery. A free-born people are not required by the religion of Jesus Christ to submit to tyranny...(we) implore the Ruler above the skies, that He would make bare His arm in defense of His Church and people, and let Israel go."

(From: "The Light and the Glory" by Peter Marshall and David Manuel)

Not only from pulpit and town hall came the cries for liberty, but now the average colonist blended his voice in support of total independence from King George. Most Crown-appointed governors remained loyal to their king. One wrote to the Board of Trade in England saying: "If you ask an American, who is his master? He will tell you he has none, nor any governor but Jesus Christ." ("The Myth of Separation" by David Barton) This may have been the incident which gave rise to the cry which was carried by the messengers of the newly formed Committee for Intercolonial Correspondence:

"NO KING BUT KING JESUS"

Either your God will be your King or your king will be your god.


On April 18, 1775 John Adams and John Hancock were at the home of Rev. Jonas Clarke, a Lexington pastor and militia leader. That same night Paul Revere arrived to warn them of the approaching Redcoats. The next morning British Major Pitcairn shouted to an assembled regiment of Minutemen; "Disperse, ye villains, lay down your arms in the name of George the Sovereign King of England." The immediate response of Rev. Jonas Clarke or one of his company was:

"We recognize no Sovereign but God and no King but Jesus."

In this crucial hour of our nation’s history it is past time that the true saints of God give total allegiance to the Kingship of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. The crisis of the ages demands that we renew the historic battle-cry of our Christian Forefathers –

"WE HAVE NO KING BUT KING JESUS!"

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!" Patrick Henry

"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty...of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." John Jay, First Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms f this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever."

-- Revelation 11:15


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Thursday, February 28, 2013

No pope there - Sequester over here

As the magical date of February 28 has come we find a strange phenomenon, a synchronized event:


  1. The Vatican is without a Bishop of Rome after Joseph Ratzinger abdicated and has left the papal Apartment(s).
  2.  As the work day comes to a close the U.S. Congress and the Administration failed to reach an agreement (again) which now means the government defaults into (a nebulous status) SEQUESTER (I think it's Latin for taking hostages).



As over there - so it is over here...  (Sounds like as above, so below: a motto often used by Catholic clergy).



Folks we are living in an historic time; actually it's a prophetic time!


*I think they are calling SEQUESTER - AUSTERY in Europe...   (So, that's what all those riots over there are all about?)
All the progressive minds in Washington look up to the enlightened Europeans, and just love to immitate them...



Arsenio.

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Obama Administration To Back Gay Marriage In Prop. 8 Case: Report


Obama Administration To Back Gay Marriage In Prop. 8 Case: Report


The Huffington Post | By Ryan J. Reilly Posted: 02/28/2013 2:50 pm EST | Updated: 02/28/2013 3:04 pm EST






WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration will urge the Supreme Court to allow same-sex marriage to resume in California, Pete Williams of NBC News reports. Thursday is the deadline for the administration to submit a friend-of-the-court brief in the Proposition 8 case, which will examine whether California voters had the right to ban same-sex marriage.

The precise language and scope of the amicus brief is unknown, but is expected to be filed later Thursday afternoon. It is unclear whether the brief will take the position that it is unconstitutional for any state to ban same-sex marriage or whether it will only speak to the specific circumstances in California, where voters narrowly voted to end gay marriage in 2008.

Thirteen states and the District of Columbia filed an amicus brief earlier on Thursday urging the Supreme Court to strike down Prop. 8.

President Barack Obama has stated that he personally believes that same-sex couples should be allowed to be married but has also previously said the issue should be left up to the states.


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SpaceX Primes 'Dragon' Capsule for Space Station Mission (Photos)


by SPACE.com Staff
Date: 25 February 2013 Time: 01:14 PM ET




Plasma Etch Inc "Systems"
Ultra Cleaning Solutions. Plasma Cleaners. R&D Labs Medical Nano Solar
www.plasmaetch.com


SpaceX's Dragon Spacecraft With Solar Array Fairings in HangarCredit: NASA/Kim ShiflettThe Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, Dragon spacecraft with solar array fairings attached, stands inside a processing hangar at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The spacecraft will launch on the upcoming SpaceX CRS-2 mission. Image released Jan. 15, 2013.




P.S.  
DRAGON?
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Vatican goes into slo-mo until a new pope is picked


Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY2:52p.m. EST February 28, 2013

The Catholic Church has complex rules for what can -- and mostly what cannot -- be done when there's no pope.



(Photo: USA TODAY)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
No major decisions can be made until cardinals elect a new pope
Meanwhile, only three Vatican officials will function, to pastor to Rome, take confessions, and pay bills
Benedict, as pope emeritus, will rest at Castel Gandolfo, the papal retreat

The Catholic Church of more than 1 billion souls without a pope. The Swiss guards have locked the doors. Even the papal Twitter account has had all Benedict's 39 tweets deleted now that he's no longer @pontifex.

So who's minding the store?

Vatican operations essentially go as still as the characters in Sleeping Beauty — frozen in time as of 8 p.m. there (2 p.m. E.T) until the new pope is installed, likely before Easter.

Friday, the call goes out to the world's 208 cardinals — those who have not already arrived in Rome — to head for the Holy See. As early as Monday, they may begin meeting in advisory groups. Their first task: set the date for the conclave when the new pope will be chosen.

In the interim, the church's canon law spells out what must and what may not be done while the papacy is vacant. Since a pope hasn't resigned in 600 years, that means following the rules for after a pope has died, says John Thavis, author ofVatican Diaries, a book about 30 years reporting on the Holy See.

All the arrangements are set by the camerlengo (chamberlain of the Church) chosen by the pope. Benedict chose Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of State,for that role but there's little for him to do with no funeral to arrange.

All the cardinals and archbishops in the curia, the bureaucracy of the Church, lose their jobs on Feb. 28. It's a bit like all the U.S. president's cabinet resigning after a presidential election so the new head of state can name his team. But in the Holy See, many cardinals expect they'll be asked to stay on in the next papacy, Thavis said. In the curia, which dates back to the Middle Ages, "continuity is an extremely high value."

Meanwhile, Vatican offices will be run by secretaries who handle ordinary, minor duties. All serious or controversial matters await the next pontiff. But decisions that are made are provisional, waiting the new pope's confirmation, says Rev. Thomas Reese, author of Inside the Vatican: The Politics & Organization of the Catholic Church, and an analyst for The National Catholic Reporter.

Only three major officials keep their posts in the period between Benedict's resignation and a successor elected: The vicar of the diocese of Rome who cares for the city's pastoral needs; the major penitentiary who deals with the Holy See's confessional needs so there is always access to forgiveness; and the camerlengo, Bertone, who will deal with property and financial decisions for the Vatican for the time being.

During the period between popes, Bertone will report to the College of Cardinals. But the electors — the cardinals under the age of 80 — are limited in what they can do until they choose a new pope.

As of Thursday, there were 117 cardinals eligible to vote but only 115 are expected in Rome. An Indonesian cardinal is too ill to travel and Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien, embroiled in allegations of misconduct with men in the 1980s, said Monday he will not come to vote.

Between now and the secret conclave, Rome is slowly filling with cardinals shmoozing with each other about what the church needs most in a new vicar of Christ and who is the ultimate papabile — Italian for someone with the qualities of a pope.

Whomever wins should react with both surprise and humility: Public campaigning for the post has been strictly forbidden since the Fifth Century. Italian cardinals and those who serve in the curia have "home field advantage," Reese says. They can host private dinners in their apartments, out of the public eye.

On the eve of the conclave, the electors will move into a special Vatican residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, with 105 two-room suites and 26 single rooms built in 1996.

They can't move in now because room assignments will be made by drawing lots, Vatican spokesman Frederico Lombardi says. And besides, the rooms aren't ready. They're being aired out, cleaned and swept for communications bugs — a routine procedure, he said.

Once inside the Sistine Chapel, there will be no outside communications. In the age of Twitter, the world will still have to wait for white smoke and the sounding of the biggest bell at St. Peter's Basilica, to find out who is the new pope.

His Holiness Benedict XVI Roman Pontiff Emeritus will rest at Castel Gandolfo, the papal retreat, when someone new assumes the title of His Holiness the Pope and 10 more — Bishop of Rome; Vicar of Jesus Christ; successor of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatican City, and Servant of the Servants of God.

For now, the busiest people in Rome may be the tailors at Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring shop. They're stitching up the vestments for the new pope in small, medium and large sizes so that whoever is chosen will fit right in.


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A Mayoral Campaign Fueled by the Religious, Conservative Wing of the NYC Democratic Party



As the old saying goes, politics makes strange bedfellows, and that is certainly true in this year’s mayoral election. One dark-horse candidate is being backed by an alliance made from an odd coupling of religious Jews and Evangelical Christian Latinos to support his socially conservative yet resolutely Democratic agenda. In a city—and a mayoral race—where even Republicans tend to be socially liberal, a religious, right-wing Democrat is certainly a novelty. But Pastor Erick Salgado would like to be more than that. Mr. Salgado, who lives in Staten Island and claims his Iglesia Jovenes Cristianos, or Churdch of the Young Christians, now has “around twenty” congregations “in the New York area,” said Jews and Christians with conservative religious beliefs have been denied “the respect that they deserve” from the city’s dominant political party.

“We are Democrats; we don’t want to do this in another party, we want to do this here in this one,” he explained to Politicker when we spoke with him last week in a small campaign office a few blocks from one of his churches in Bath Beach READ MORE


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UW-L professor questions effectiveness of 'sin taxes'




Erik Daily
Laci Wolter, manager at Holy Smokes on Rose Street, arranges liquor bottles on a shelf at the store. Despite promises from politicians that "sin taxes", like those on booze and cigarettes, can prevent use and offer a new pool of money for health programs, that's not necessarily true, said Adam Hoffer, assistant professor of economics for UW-L.


February 26, 2013 12:00 am • By PATRICK B. ANDERSON | panderson@lacrossetribune.com





Adam Hoffer knows people who question so-called sin taxes can be stigmatized as “crazy radicals that don’t know what they’re talking about.”

But taxing booze, cigarettes and soft drinks isn’t always a great idea, says the assistant professor of economics at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Hoffer co-wrote a column this month for U.S. News and World Report that raises doubts about the effectiveness of taxing tobacco and alcohol.

Such taxes heap more costs on low-income families without significantly deterring unhealthy behavior, Hoffer said.

Most of the money raised doesn’t go to health or prevention programs. Instead, Hoffer said, it gets lost in the shuffle of public funding.

“The policy makers in Madison have an idea of how much they want to spend on health care, regardless,” Hoffer said.

However, members of a Wisconsin anti-tobacco group say higher cigarette taxes have, in fact, curbed smoking, and they’re pushing for a similar increase for all tobacco products.

In the past six years, Wisconsin’s cigarette tax more than tripled, from 77 cents a pack to $2.52. Combine that with $1.01 for the federal government, and taxes account for well over half the retail price.

Politically safe ground

Hoffer started studying cigarette taxes as part of his doctoral dissertation at West Virginia University. His column points out a growing trend of lawmakers taxing unhealthy behaviors — expanding excise taxes to products such as candy and soft drinks.

Politicians look to sin taxes as a safe way to raise money without upsetting voters, Hoffer said. “You will see pitch forks and torches if some states try to increase their income tax or their sales tax.”

Taxing sin paints a rosier picture, he said: Hike the price on cigarettes to deter smokers, then funnel the money into health care and tobacco-prevention programs.

The problem is that sin taxes don’t always work as promised, Hoffer said. Nationally, about 20 cents of every dollar raised in cigarette taxes goes to the earmarked purposes.

Wisconsin’s cigarette tax goes into the state’s general fund, along with all excise taxes. Taxing cigarettes raised $587.8 million alone for the state in 2012. Less than 1 percent of tobacco taxes are spent on prevention programs.

“Lawmakers don’t want to label sources of money,” said Todd Berry, president of the Wisconsin Taxpayers’ Alliance.

‘An arms race’

Money the state raised from the cigarette tax jumped by about $93 million when lawmakers last raised the rate in 2009, but three years later it had dropped by about $56.5 million. Cigarette sales are on a steady decline.

“Especially among youth,” said Laura Smith, a spokeswoman for Health First Wisconsin. “It’s definitely one of the most effective ways to lower smoking rates.”

The share of high school students who smoke dropped from 20.7 percent in 2008 to 13.1 percent in 2012, according to the Wisconsin Youth Tobacco Survey.

Health First is asking state lawmakers to tax other tobacco products like cigarettes, hoping higher taxes will lead to a similar drop. The group tried unsuccessfully to have Gov. Scott Walker include the measure in his 2013-15 budget proposal, and is asking other state lawmakers for help.

Rep. Chris Danou, D-Trempealeau, said he would support such a plan. Tobacco companies roll out cigarette alternatives, and, because taxes are lower on the new products, people make the switch, Danou said.

“It’s an arms race,” Danou said.

Not a deterrent

Cigarette taxes may be a steady source of government revenue, but Berry said there’s little financial benefit in raising taxes on other vices.

For instance, the state raised about $9.2 million in 2012 from the excise tax on beer. Wisconsin taxes brewers and importers about 6.5 cents per gallon on beer sold in the state.

Even doubling that would pale compared to the $11 billion from income and sales taxes, Berry said.

“There’s not a lot of money in beer, wine and liquor,” Berry said.

That hasn’t stopped lawmakers in other states from taxing a whole new category of unhealthy products, including candy and soft drinks.

The soft drink industry spent $57 million on lobbying efforts in 2009, and “there’s a small army being raised to fight the 32-ounce soft drink ban in New York City,” Hoffer said.

Despite claims otherwise, most people paying sin taxes are not easily deterred by higher prices, Hoffer said.

“Whenever their price goes up, people hardly change their consumption whatsoever,” Hoffer said.

Higher taxes correlate to falling cigarette sales in Wisconsin, but the drop didn’t happen in a vacuum. There’s the 2010 law that prohibited smoking in bars and restaurants, and there’s also out-of-state competition. The cigarette tax is lower per pack in Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois.

Meanwhile, Hoffer argues that increasing excise taxes disproportionately affects low-income residents, who are more likely to smoke and more likely to be overweight or obese.

“We’re taking away from the people’s ability to spend more on healthy food,” he said.


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Report: Official Involved In Release of Immigrants Retired, Didn't Resign


Elise Foley


Gary Mead Retired, Did Not Resign, Immigration And Customs Enforcement Says


Posted: 02/27/2013 4:46 pm EST | Updated: 02/27/2013 6:58 pm EST





WASHINGTON -- Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials insisted on Wednesday that there was no connection between the retirement of Enforcement and Removal Operations Director Gary Mead and the release earlier this week of hundreds of undocumented immigrants from detention.

The Associated Press reported earlier Wednesday that Mead announced his resignation in an email on Tuesday, "hours after U.S. officials had confirmed that a few hundred illegal immigrants facing deportation had been released from immigration jails due to budget cuts." The report does not say outright that the two items were related, but it has been interpreted as such by some observers.

ICE spokeswoman Gillian Christensen said Mead had announced his plans to retire "several weeks ago" to senior leadership at the agency. Mead will retire at the end of April, she said in a statement.

"The Associated Press’ report is inaccurate and misleading," she said.

The agency on Monday released "several hundred" immigrant detainees who were deemed low priority, either because they were non-criminals or low-level offenders. The move did not free them from deportation; all will stay in the removal process and could be deported based on the decision of an immigration judge. ICE cited looming budget cuts in its announcement that some immigrants had been released.

White House spokesman Jay Carney sought to distance the administration from the move to release the detainees, saying on Wednesday that the decision came from ICE.

UPDATE: 5:20 p.m. -- The Associated Press later tweeted a correction to its original report that Mead had quit:


The Associated Press ✔ @AP


CORRECTION: Homeland Security official retires after illegal immigrants freed: http://apne.ws/YAFtQ8 (previous tweet said he quit)
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5 Psych Disorders Have Common Genetics


General PsychiatryLatest News| Videos


By Michael Smith, North American Correspondent, MedPage Today
Published: February 27, 2013

Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania


For best viewing, click the bottom right corner for full screen.


Action Points
  • The findings in this study show that specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with a range of psychiatric disorders of childhood onset or adult onset.
  • In particular, variation in calcium-channel signalling genes seems to play a role in five psychiatric disorders.



Autism, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia share common genetic underpinnings -- despite differences in symptoms and course of disease, researchers discovered.

In particular, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two genes involved in calcium-channel activity appear to play a role in all five, Jordan Smoller, MD, ScD, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues reported online in The Lancet.

The findings come from a genome-wide analysis of 33,332 cases and 27,888 controls in what the authors described as the largest-ever genetic study of psychiatric illness.

The results are "new evidence that may inform a move beyond descriptive syndromes in psychiatry and towards classification based on underlying causes," Smoller said in a statement.

The findings are especially important because of revisions to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International Classification of Diseases, which have "reinvigorated debate about the validity of diagnostic boundaries," the authors noted.

Indeed, the findings confirm previous evidence of "abundant pleiotropy in human complex disorders" – meaning the same genetic variant plays a role in several diseases, argued Alessandro Serretti, MD, PhD, and Chiara Fabbri of the University of Bologna in Italy.

For instance, they noted in an accompanying commentary, calcium signaling, a key regulator of the growth and development of neurons, was expected to be highly pleiotropic, an expectation that "has now been confirmed."

But while some gene variants play a role in many disorders, there are almost certainly others that contribute to the "consistent diversity among disorders," Serretti and Fabbri argued.

"Many genes and polymorphisms are expected to confer a liability to individual psychiatric diseases," they wrote.

Nonetheless, they concluded, one implication of the study is that genetics "can contribute to prediction and prevention of psychiatric diseases, along with the identification of molecular targets for new generations of psychotropic drugs."

But that is not likely to happen soon, according to Randy Ross, MD, of the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colo.

The study is a "beginning step to give us ideas that will eventually lead to new treatments," he toldMedPage Today.

In the long run, however, this study and subsequent research will change both diagnosis and treatment, Ross said, as psychiatric diseases are put on a biological footing.

The researchers found that SNPs (single-letter changes in the genetic code) in four regions were associated with all five disorders: two on chromosome 10, including the L-type voltage-gated calcium-channel subunit CACNB2, one on chromosome 3, and another calcium-channel subunit,CACNA1C, on chromosome 12.

The statistical significance of all four surpassed the cutoff for genome-wide significance ofP<5x10-8 and="" br="" colleagues="" reported.="" smoller="">
The calcium-channel gene CACNA1C has been previously linked to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder, they wrote, as well as to Timothy syndrome, a developmental disorder that can include autism.

The other calcium-channel gene has been linked to bipolar disorder in people of Han Chinese ethnicity, they added.

"Our results suggest that voltage-gated calcium signaling, and, more broadly, calcium-channel activity, could be an important biological process in psychiatric disorders," they argued.

The region on chromosome 3 includes more than 30 genes, Smoller and colleagues noted, but previous research has linked SNPs in the area to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression.

They cautioned that they compared models of cross-disorder effects with widely used goodness-of-fit measures, but different criteria might yield other results.

They also noted that diagnostic misclassification in the study cohort might produce "spurious evidence of genetic overlap between disorders," although such errors would have to be widespread to affect the results.

Another limitation: the members of the study cohort were of European ancestry, so it's not known if the findings apply to other populations.


The study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, as well as grants from the NIH, government grants from other countries, and private and foundation support.
The authors declared they had no conflicts.
The comment authors declared they had no conflicts.


Primary source: Lancet
Source reference:
Smoller JW, et al "Identification of risk loci with shared effects on five major psychiatric disorders: a genome-wide analysis" Lancet 2013; DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)62129-1.

Additional source: Lancet
Source reference:
Alessandro Serretti, Chiara Fabbri "Shared genetics among major psychiatric disorders" Lancet 2013; DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60223-8.


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Woodward: White House Warned Me "You Will Regret Doing This"




Bob Woodward: 'Obama administration threatened me over budget assessments'



CNN


Published on Feb 27, 2013

Journalist Bob Woodward says President Obama's administration threatened him over his budget assessments. For more CNN videos, visit our site at http://www.cnn.com/video/ 

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